ALBANY, NEW YORK--The New York State Board of Regents, which
oversees public education for students in the state, ruled last week to
continue its policy -- at least on a temporary basis -- banning the use of
aversive treatments of students in New York schools and schools outside the
state that accept New York students.

The Board started the ban in June in response to news reports that staff
at the Judge Rotenberg Education Center in Canton, Massachusetts were
subjecting dozens of New York students sent there to punishments such as
electric skin shocks, sleep deprivation, food deprivation, and noxious sprays
for such behaviors as "nagging", "failure to maintain a neat appearance",
"interrupting others", and "slouching in chair".

New York contracts with the Rotenberg Center to house and educate about
150 youths, most of which have developmental or other disabilities.

The Board decided to extend the ban until its October meeting, while it
reviews comments made by hundreds of people at public meetings over the summer.

Earlier this month, a federal judge ordered JRC to continue using skin
shocks as punishment for 46 New York students whose parents sued to overturn
the state's emergency ban. The parents claimed that the jolts, which are
described as being similar to bee stings, are the only techniques that have
helped their children keep from hurting themselves or others.

Massachusetts regulators, including the Disabled Persons Protection
Commission, have been investigating several allegations of abuse at the
institution.